Jesus Creed

Children who grow up “Scared”

If you could give someone one item to learn about poverty in Africa, what would it be? What is the best way to teach about poverty and the global crises we face? What impacted you the most in learning about global poverty? I learned most about the Holocaust through visiting Mauthausen and reading Elie Wiesel’s “Night.” How do we teach about Africa’s poverty and AIDS crises? One way is to write novels …

A deep love for suffering children, especially those with AIDS and orphans …

A deep commitment and plea for those who can help to see what life in Africa is like …

And a realistic narrative of a photojournalist, whose own life crumbles, and a young African girl whose family is dying of AIDS and who herself suffers from starvation, atrocities … and these two come together, from such wildly contrasting worlds that one is driven to ponder the injustices of the world, into a message of realism and hope.

There is no reason why the typical suburban, computer-reading Christian can’t support a child or do something for the suffering orphans of this world.

Tom Davis, on the basis of the facts, uses the second approach to put in our minds and hearts the needs of Africa. I’ve posted about Tom’s ministry — HopeChest — before, and I’m glad to post yet again about this novel. I can’t think of Tom without thinking of the words of James … pure religion before God is to care for widows and orphans.

I was in Ukraine with Tom and Childrens Hope Chest in 2003. I can tell you first hand what a top notch organization he has. God is blessing them, and count me in as one of the first to read his new novel.

Hi Scott,
Scared is the best novel I’ve read in years. I actually wrote about it on my blog this week as well. I praise God that Tom is using his writing gift to help these precious children.
You are absolutely right…there is no reason for us not to reach out and help.

There are many, many good causes to be involved with. Given the prominence of this issue in the Bible, I think it does not receive proportionate attention in most churches. Why?
My wife and I adopted a little boy who was orphaned and is also disabled. What I was completely unprepared for is how this would affect our relationship to the church. It has driven us closer to the fringe, which is deeply ironic.

ChrisB – I’m a random reader and a first-time commenter. Just wanted to say I find your second comment disingenuous – you’re leaving a cynical remark on the dude’s blog taking him to task for an assertion he made – of course the remark is directed at him. We all need to be a little more respectful instead of taking hit and run potshots that feel safe just cuz we’re relatively anonymous to one another on the web.
And I’m not sure what your real point is here – for example, the historical novel is a genre that sets fictional characters in a real time and place. Does anybody dispute the validity of what say, a Michener does in a novel like “Caribbean” or “Caravans”?

…having the deep sacred privilege of being a mentor/soul friend to Tom, I welcome your endorsement
…and thank you!
…he’s the real deal, from his personal life right on into his life-calling
…indeed, this is a significant and important read
…the novel has also taken me to places within I needed to go
…again, thank you!!!

Thanks for sharing this, Scot. Instead of thinking what we can’t do, we should focus on what we can do. We are the haves, and so many in this world are the have-nots. In Jesus we need to have open hands to them. And especially to the children. Who seemed to hold a special place in Jesus’ thoughts.

“no reason the typical, suburban, computer-reading Christian can’t…” That description is me! I thought poverty always sounded hopelessly overwhelming until I learned suburban, computer-reading Christians have the perfect resumes for advocacy work. Small actions can sway Congress to do right by us for the developing world. Right now, calling your U.S. rep to ask them to support HR 2139 (reforming Foreign Aid) can have a huge impact on millions in extreme poverty. Bread for the World is a great Christian advocacy org for teaching you how and helping you know when to be engaged in fighting poverty.

ChrisB,
I definitely agree that we can’t just take novels as fact. . we must use discernment.
However, this novel in particular has been used to create a space for us to truly enter into the story of a child. Yes, it might be fiction.
I read this book on my trip to Uganda last month. I wept on the plane. I spent a week in Uganda just following reading this book.
I want you to know that while much fiction is just that. . fiction. . the figment of an authors imagination. I SAW these themes and characters played out in real life. If you want to know if Adanna story is true, you can think of Imaacullee who has a 13 year old daughter because her father sold her to her uncle when she was just a child. If you want to know if Adanna’s story of being stolen from is true, you can find Pauline in the Bukedea District of Uganda and hear her story of having everything taken just moments after her father had died. If you want to know if there are pastors like this, I’d love to introduce you to the Pastor of Ogoloi Church or to the widows of the Teso region. I saw it in real life. You may not be able to hop a plane to Uganda, but I promise you that what you read it real. . in fact, it’s watered down a bit b/c the true drama of the life of a little girl like Adanna would never be read . it’d just be too hard to read.
Read the book. . if there are other issues you wonder “are these facts of fiction?” feel free to email me and I’ll let you know of our experiences in Uganda and whether we saw those things played out or not.
I think it’s a good quesiton you ask. . but with this subject matter, you don’t need to make up facts. . they are full of enough drama themselves. Tom just creates a character who can teach you herself.
Brandi

Scot (#6): We love you, Brother. Gore Vidal’s whole series of historical novels from 500BC to 1945AD prove that “novels can use facts.”
As for teaching our kids about want in this world, we’ve found that experience is the best teacher. As in medical missions. Second best is serving the underserved here in the U.S. Third best, donating to charities that then do the work Jesus wants us to do: Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, `Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 `And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 `When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

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Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events throughout the USA and in Denmark and South Africa. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).

Scot McKnight is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Society for New Testament Studies. He is the author of more than thirty books, including the award-winning The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (Paraclete, 2004), which won the Christianity Today book of the year for Christian Living. Recent books include Embracing Grace: A Gospel for All of Us (Paraclete, 2005), The Story of the Christ (Baker, 2006), Praying with the Church (Paraclete, 2006), and The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus (Paraclete, 2007). A recent book, A Community called Atonement (Abingdon, 2007), has been nominated for the Grawameyer Award. He broadened his Jesus Creed project in writing a daily devotional: 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed (Paraclete, 2008). His studies in conversion were expanded with his newest book, Finding Faith, Losing Faith (Baylor, 2008), a book he co-authored with his former student Hauna Ondrey. His most recent books are The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible (Zondervan, 2008) and Fasting (Thomas Nelson, 2009).

Forthcoming books include a commentary on James (Eerdmans, 2010). He is presently researching “gospel” in the earliest Christian communities.

Other books include Who Do My Opponents Say I am? (co-edited with Joseph Modica), Jesus and His Death (Baylor, 2005), A Light among the Gentiles (Fortress, 1992), A New Vision for Israel (Eerdmans, 1999), Turning to Jesus (Westminster John Knox, 2002), Galatians (Zondervan, 1993) and 1 Peter (Zondervan, 1996), Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels (Baker, 1988), and he is a co-editor with J.B. Green and I.H. Marshall of the award-winning The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (IVP, 1992) as well as the co-editor, with J.D.G. Dunn, of The Historical Jesus in Current Study (Eisenbraun’s, 2005). He regularly contributes chapter length studies to dictionaries, encyclopedias, books and articles for magazines and online webzines. McKnight’s books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Portuguese.

McKnight’s award-winning blog, Jesus Creed, has been rated by Technorati.com as the #1 site for Emerging Church and continues to increase in readership.

Scot McKnight was elected into the Hall of Honor at Cornerstone University in honor of his basketball accomplishments during his college career. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Libertyville, Illinois. They enjoy traveling, long walks, gardening, and cooking. They have two adult children, Laura (married to Mark Barringer) and Lukas (married to Annika Nelson), and one grandchild: Aksel Donovan Nelson McKnight.

Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events throughout the USA and in Denmark and South Africa. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).

Scot McKnight is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Society for New Testament Studies. He is the author of more than thirty books, including the award-winning The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (Paraclete, 2004), which won the Christianity Today book of the year for Christian Living. Recent books include Embracing Grace: A Gospel for All of Us (Paraclete, 2005), The Story of the Christ (Baker, 2006), Praying with the Church (Paraclete, 2006), and The Real Mary: Why Evangelical Christians Can Embrace the Mother of Jesus (Paraclete, 2007). A recent book, A Community called Atonement (Abingdon, 2007), has been nominated for the Grawameyer Award. He broadened his Jesus Creed project in writing a daily devotional: 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed (Paraclete, 2008). His studies in conversion were expanded with his newest book, Finding Faith, Losing Faith (Baylor, 2008), a book he co-authored with his former student Hauna Ondrey. His most recent books are The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible (Zondervan, 2008) and Fasting (Thomas Nelson, 2009).

Forthcoming books include a commentary on James (Eerdmans, 2010). He is presently researching “gospel” in the earliest Christian communities.

Other books include Who Do My Opponents Say I am? (co-edited with Joseph Modica), Jesus and His Death (Baylor, 2005), A Light among the Gentiles (Fortress, 1992), A New Vision for Israel (Eerdmans, 1999), Turning to Jesus (Westminster John Knox, 2002), Galatians (Zondervan, 1993) and 1 Peter (Zondervan, 1996), Interpreting the Synoptic Gospels (Baker, 1988), and he is a co-editor with J.B. Green and I.H. Marshall of the award-winning The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (IVP, 1992) as well as the co-editor, with J.D.G. Dunn, of The Historical Jesus in Current Study (Eisenbraun’s, 2005). He regularly contributes chapter length studies to dictionaries, encyclopedias, books and articles for magazines and online webzines. McKnight’s books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Portuguese.

McKnight’s award-winning blog, Jesus Creed, has been rated by Technorati.com as the #1 site for Emerging Church and continues to increase in readership.

Scot McKnight was elected into the Hall of Honor at Cornerstone University in honor of his basketball accomplishments during his college career. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Libertyville, Illinois. They enjoy traveling, long walks, gardening, and cooking. They have two adult children, Laura (married to Mark Barringer) and Lukas (married to Annika Nelson), and one grandchild: Aksel Donovan Nelson McKnight.